She blinked. “You almost called it quits today.”
“I know.”
“I would’ve missed this!”
“You don’t miss what you’ve never had.”
“That’s a sneaky way to make your point.”
“I didn’t mean to. You handed me the opening. Besides, it’s true.”
“Well, now I know what I almost missed, and good luck getting rid of me, cowboy.” Yeah, she was getting worked up again. Amazing.
“That’s the problem. I don’t want to get rid of you.”
“Then don’t.” She wasn’t the only one getting excited. His breathing had changed. “We’ll start with putting Santa hats on the Beaver Bunch and work our way from there.”
“You don’t give up easy.”
“Are you just finding that out?”
“Oh, I knew it. Considered it a plus.”
“Because it is.” She stroked his sweaty back. “You’re working up a lather.”
“For a good cause. You’re gonna come again.” He picked up the pace.
“Maybe.” She rubbed her palm across a thin ridge on his back. A scar from childhood?
“Let’s make sure of it.” Balancing on one arm, he slid his other hand under her tush and shifted the angle.
“Ohhhh.” The soft exclamation came unbidden from her lips as he created a delicious friction that captured her complete attention.
“Like that?”
“Just a little bit.”
“Then let’s go with it.” He got down to business, stoking her furnace with the skill of a master.
If she’d thought she knew all about his bedroom skills after the first few go-rounds, she’d been sadly mistaken. Clearly she’d only scratched the surface.
And she was definitely on the way to another spectacular orgasm. But this time, so was he. She heard it in his soft hum as he moved faster and the catch in his voice as he urged her on.
He wasn’t a bystander this time. He was in the fray, with fire in his eyes and sweat beading his forehead. When she let go, shouting at him to join her, he did, calling her name as he drove in and held his ground, his body shaking with the force of his release.
She cradled him in her arms and rejoiced in the beauty of what they could create together. He was willing to be open and vulnerable when they made love.
Surely he could learn to dismantle the other walls he’d built. It would just take time. Her challenge would be learning patience.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cole fetched the groceries and put them away while Mila started on the Santa hats. Leaving fresh produce in the truck would have been a disaster in the summer, but in December with the temperature dropping and a storm coming in, those veggies were fine.
She kept working while he fixed them a couple of turkey sandwiches. She’d made good progress by the time she put the hats aside to have some lunch.
“It won’t take much longer.” She slid onto a stool. “Thanks for making these. Do I smell apple cider?”
“I warmed it up. Figured that would go better with it looking so wintry outside.”
